Hinge



PATBNTED JAN. 12, 1904.

D. W. TOWER.

` HINGE.

APPLIGATION FILED DBO. a. 1902.

No MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 12, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,411, dated January12, 1904. Application filed December 8, 190,2. Serial No. 134,412. (Nomodel.)

l zen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Hinge, ofwhich the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates generally to hinges, and particularly to thatclass in which the straps are inclosed in a metallic casing of differentmetal than the straps. The present invention is designed as animprovement upon a hinge for which I secured Letters Patent of theUnited States, February 26, 1901, No. 669,018. The specific features ofnovelty of the present invention over what is shown in said patent arethe constructing of the strap-casings in such manner as to per- 4mit oftheir being nishedmthat is, nickelplated, copper-plated, or otherwiseornamented prior to being assembled with the strapsthe entire hiding ofthe knuckle-pin, and the novel manner in which one of the casings isheld assembled with one of the straps.

With these and other. objects in view, as

will appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a hingeas will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,there is illustrated one form of hinge constructed in accordance withthe present invention, it being understood that the elements thereinexhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exactmanner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in per` spective of the completedhinge.

nate, respectively, the straps which are held assembled for pivotalmovement by an ordinary pin 3. Hereinafter in referring to the strapsthe strap l will be termed the fixed strap, as this is the one that willbe secured to a stationary part of the structure, and the strap 2 aswinging strap, as this .will be the part to be attached to a door orthe like. is understood that the invention is not to be limited to theprecise contour of the hinge and its applied casings, as various otherdesigns may be employed and still be within the scope of the invention.

Each of the straps is inclosed by a casing 4 and 5, respectively, whichis struck up from sheet metal and corresponds in shape to the straps andis associated therewith through the medium of back plates 6 and 7 andeyelets 8, passing through the back plates, through openings in thestraps, and through openings in the casings.

The feature of the casing that incloses the fixed strap as defining itfrom the patent referred to is in forming the end walls 9 of theknuckle-receiving portion solid or devoid of openings, thus effectivelyto hide the knucklepin and to give the hinge when positioned theappearance of being made of solid metal throughout. Furthermore, thefront wall 41() of the casing 4 is provided with two tongues 11, whichare adapted to engage openings 12 in a flange 13, formed on one edge ofthe back plate 6 at right angles thereto, thus to hold the back plateproperly associated with the lixed strap-casing until the eyelets 8thereof shall have been assembled therewith.

At the points where the eyelets are associated with the back plates ofthe two straps there are providedk integral reinforces 15, formed bystriking up the metal of the plates in any well-known manner, and thisobviates the necessity of employment of separate washers, such asheretofore employed, and at the Sametime imparts rigidity to the backplates which they would not otherwise possess. When the eyelets havebeen seated in the openings in the parts and arc bushed or spread, the'flaring portions will engage, respectively, with the reinforces, withthe plates, and with the walls of the openings in the casings, and

IOO

thus operate rmly and positively to hold the parts of the structureassembled against possibility of accidental separation.

As stated at the outset of this specification,-

one of the salient features of the invention resides in constructing thestrap-casings in such manner as to permit of their being secured to thestraps after they have been ornamented, as by being nickel-plated,copper-plated, or otherwise treated. This is effected by the manner ofconstructing the casings, the casing of the swinging strap beingprovided with a tongue 16, that is folded around the center knuckle andthen against the swinging strap, in which position it is clamped by theback plate when the same is secured in position. By obviating thenecessity of riveting the pin in the knuckles after the fixedstrap-casing is positioned a highly ornamental knuckle-covering isprovided, and to enhance its beauty those portions that lie opposite thepin may be ornamented by being struck up to represent a turned pin,-awasher, or' the like, as

shown at 17.

After the casings have been ornamented as desired the casing of theswinging strap is secured in position and then the casing of the fixedstrap, and when the article is completed by the inclusion of the eyeletsa highly-ornamental and durable form of hinge is presented which to allappearances is of solid metal throughout.

- By making the hinge in the manner described its cost of production isgreatly reduced, and while the hinge will have the appearance of beingmade, say, of solid brass and to all intents and purposes will subserveIn some instances it might be desired to hide the screws in the iiXedstrap, and this will be effected by making the same devoid ofeyelet-receiving openings, the casing being held associated with thestrap by interlocking the tongues 11 with the openings 12 of thedepending flange of the back plate 6.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In a hinge, thecombination with one of the straps, of a casing having a portion tohouse and totally conceal the knuckle and the ends of the hinge-pin.

2. In a hinge the combination with one of the straps, of an inclosingcasing therefor provided with a housing for a knuckle and the hinge-pin,said housing having imperforate end walls.

3. In a hinge, the combination with one of the straps, of a casinghaving a portion to house and totally conceal the knuckle and thehinge-pin, and provided on its inner side with integral tongues, incombination with a back plate provided with openings to be engaged bythe tongues.

4. In a hinge, the combination with one of the straps, of a casing toinclose the same and provided with a portion to house the knuckle andthe hinge-pin, said housing having imperforate end walls and providedwith integral flexible tongues, and a back plate having openings to beengaged by the tongues to hold it associated with the strap.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL W. TOWER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE F. SINCLAIR, E. L. KNAPP.

